In this season finale of The Coastal Call, Fairfield University’s Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies joins Boston College’s Climate Reveal podcast for a live conversation at the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society. Hosted by Rob Nazarian, PhD with Boston College co-hosts David Deese, PhD, and Chris Citorik, the episode explores how Jesuit colleges and universities advance climate research through interdisciplinary collaboration, student mentorship, and public engagement. The conversation highlights Fairfield’s undergraduate research model, extreme snowfall in a warming climate, ocean carbon uptake, long-term climate observations, biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel, and the importance of making research accessible beyond the academy. Listen in to learn how faculty, students, and institutions are working together to better understand climate change and serve the common good.

Learn more about Fairfield University’s Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies.

In this episode of The Coastal Call, Fairfield University’s Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies welcomes Karen Karbiener, PhD, clinical professor at New York University and president of the Walt Whitman Initiative, for a conversation about poetry, place, and environmental awareness. Joined by Rob Nazarian, PhD, Elizabeth Petrino, PhD, and Bryan Ripley Crandall PhD, Dr. Karbiener explores how Walt Whitman’s relationship with the Long Island Sound shaped his poetry, imagination, and understanding of the natural world. The conversation connects literature, coastal environments, K-12 education, and the power of storytelling to deepen care for the places we share. Listen to learn how poetry can help us see the Sound not only as a body of water, but as a source of reflection, creativity, and connection.

Learn more about Fairfield University’s Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies.

In this episode of The Coastal Call, Rob Nazarian, PhD and William F. Vazquez, PhD welcome Jennifer Trudeau Tham, PhD for a conversation about sea level rise, shoreline protection, and how communities value coastal adaptation. From the Long Island Sound to Guatemala and Uruguay, they explore what willingness-to-pay research reveals about public priorities, local differences, and the trade-offs behind climate policy. The episode also looks at flooding, erosion, salinization, and habitat loss, along with the role of maps, modeling, and emerging visualization tools in helping communities understand future risks. It is a thoughtful look at how economics, climate science, and collaboration can support stronger coastal decision-making.

Learn more about Fairfield University’s Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies.